[b]Miriam
Chapter 13: The struggling Crutch [/b]

With a light wave Miriam left Anathema behind, the woman folded her arms and looked past the huntress towards Eliana as she walked off.
	"She's got ta do what she's got ta do - But you can still come wit' us, Miriam." Theodore nodded in blustering agreement and blurted out dramatically.
	"You'll die!" Miriam only shrugged lazily and turned on her feet, she gave Leia a light nod and the dog started to walk next to her. 
	"By my count; that's the second time today, then." Miriam said with half a laugh and then turned to stroll on after Eliana. She could hear Anathema curse in her own language behind her before she and Theodore left hearing distance, and would no doubt find some safety with the rest of Lowburg's sane population. Eliana and Miriam, were clearly not a part of this designation.

It wasn't difficult to catch up with Ellie. The girl seemed very determined as she walked, but she still seemed far from recuperated and struggled despite her gritty expression. Miriam walked next to her right, and Leia walked further on Miriam's right. If Ellie was even aware of their presence was unclear as she simply kept hobbling forward towards whatever destination she was heading for. Honestly it didn't matter where she was going, Miriam had promised herself to help and even though she owed Eliana nothing she felt the urge that she was meant to at least be here. Miriam pocketed her hands inside her coat and leisurely walked next to the struggling Spirit-Walker, she took a moment to inspect the area around them. They had come out of the tunnel on the far side of the town, the area had been always been bleak and gray but this, Miriam felt, was overdoing it. Most of it was covered in a short sheet of ice and snow which seemed to suffocate the wet ground, patches of dull brown grass peaked out of the slim cover of cold but it was hardly an inspiring view. In the far distance one could see the gray outline which Miriam knew to be the Silent Woods. Also a very uninspiring vista to look at. Eerie one at that. Miriam almost missed the dead towns of the Marsh at this point. But then again, there were no interesting blonde girls in those towns, Miriam looked back to Eliana and tried to deduce where she was from. Judging by the dress, muddy and worn as it was, she was rich and most likely from the north. It was a simple enough design but it had the touch of finesse that only nobility wore. Her hair and face spoke differently though, there were few blondes in the north, the inhabitants here were all just like the mood of the nation, dark as night, or red as blood. Never golden like this. This Walker was truly an enigma, and she certainly wasn't an old man as Miriam had been told. Eventually Miriam tore her gaze off and looked ahead again, Leia barked happily and paused for a moment. They were travelling alongside the city perimeter and the walls that had been raised were coming into view as they were slowly approaching the southern edge of the town. The walls were blocking the view but sparks of fire could be seen over the edges, even though the inferno had undoubtedly died off. Before long they passed around the curved wall enough to catch sight of the southern side. Miriam twitched a discomforted face and let out one of her many scoffs which made her bangs sway. The land had been pelted by a rain of arrows which made the storm a few days ago look like a light drizzle. One could smell the reek of death and panic even from this distance and all over the ground the faint outlines of men scrambled and hurried for safety behind trenches, Miriam did not wish to see how the center of the field look like if this was only the edge. Instinctively she looked up at the ramparts and expected to be shot down but no arrow had come flying so far. She dropped her hands out of her pockets which made her flowing coat flap slightly, she then looked away from the battlefields and the walls towards Eliana.
	"Now what?" She asked her with some hurry.